Neck Related Elbow Pain – Role of Wrist Extensor Muscles

Commonly neck pain is due to C5, C6 cervical nerve root irritation. This can produce pain and spasm in the extensor carpi radialis longus muscle which crosses the elbow and therefore pain in the elbow can also be felt by the patient.

Extensor carpi radialis longus receives C5 and C6 nerve root fibers through the radial nerve. Together with the brachioradialis and the extensor carpi radialis brevis, it is one of the three muscles that is known as the wad of three. These three muscles can give significant pain in the elbow commonly known as tennis elbow.

It originates from the outer aspect (lateral) of the lower one third of the arm bone (humerus). Inserts into the base of the second knuckle (metacarpal bone) on the back of the hand.

Its action is to bring the wrist up as in making a fist. It can also deviate the hand away from the midline of the body.

This is one of the three muscles known as the wad of three and together with the triceps, causes the common condition known as tennis elbow.

It arises from the arm bone just above the elbow joint in the region called the outer (lateral) epicondyle and inserts into the base of the third knuckle (metacarpal) bone. It lifts the wrist and also deviates the hand away from the trunk.